2 thoughts on “Afghanistan: Deforestation marches on”
As a forester it is disturbing to know the magnitude of forest destruction in Afghanistan that has been going on quite for some time but assumed unprecedented levels during the Afghan war. Deforestation, in general, is a local problem with adverse impacts at national and global level. Given the lack of institutional capacity in Afghanistan to overcome the process of deforestation, I think international community should not wait to see total disappearance of left over natural forests and associated flagship wildlife species like Snow leopard and Marco Polo sheep but support community-based afforestation and reforestation initiatives, simultaneously developing national and global pressure groups to stop this timber mafia business in Afghanistan as well as across the bordering province NWFP in Pakistan.
Actual the problems are manifold than highlighted in the article. The spil over effect of that devastation are much obvious in the neibouring country of Pakistan where the a dam: Warsak Dam constructed on the Kabut river has already silted up. Resultatnly the storage capacity of the dame has been reduced almost by 60%. Consequently form the last couple of years the district of Peshawar, Charsada, Nowshera etc of NWFP Province is experiencing sever floods which ultimatly damages the agricultural crops, and other public properties leaving behind the scar of poverty, extremism, terrorism, food shortage etc.
As a forester it is disturbing to know the magnitude of forest destruction in Afghanistan that has been going on quite for some time but assumed unprecedented levels during the Afghan war. Deforestation, in general, is a local problem with adverse impacts at national and global level. Given the lack of institutional capacity in Afghanistan to overcome the process of deforestation, I think international community should not wait to see total disappearance of left over natural forests and associated flagship wildlife species like Snow leopard and Marco Polo sheep but support community-based afforestation and reforestation initiatives, simultaneously developing national and global pressure groups to stop this timber mafia business in Afghanistan as well as across the bordering province NWFP in Pakistan.
Actual the problems are manifold than highlighted in the article. The spil over effect of that devastation are much obvious in the neibouring country of Pakistan where the a dam: Warsak Dam constructed on the Kabut river has already silted up. Resultatnly the storage capacity of the dame has been reduced almost by 60%. Consequently form the last couple of years the district of Peshawar, Charsada, Nowshera etc of NWFP Province is experiencing sever floods which ultimatly damages the agricultural crops, and other public properties leaving behind the scar of poverty, extremism, terrorism, food shortage etc.